Switch operating and locking device



J. L. BEIL- SWITCH OPERATING AND LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-30, I9I9.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

A TTORNEYS PATENT OFFICE.

mm L. BEIL, or GALENA, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH OPERATING AND LOCKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed fieceniter 89, 1919. Serial No. 348,267.

zen of the United States, and a resident of V Galena, in the county of Jo Daviess and tat-e of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch Uperating and Looking Devices, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in switch operating and locking devices, and

consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

7 An object of my invention is to provide an operating and locking device switches, which is relatively simple in operation and construction, and is not liable to easily get out of order.

A further object of my invention is to provide a positive locking device which will iold the switch points in position against the rails when operated in an ordinary manner, and which will not allow the switch point to rebound from the rail when thrown too forcibly against same, nor allow the switch to open by a backward movement of the throw bar before the switch is completely closed, thus creating a condition liableto cause wrecks.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rotatable operating and locking device that may be connected with the throw rod of an ordinary switch and used to operate the switch when driven by a motor.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will he particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of an ordinary railroad track and switch, showing the switch operating and locking device in position.

Fig. 2 is a detailed plan view of the locking device in closed position broken away to show the worm and gear connection to the motor.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the locking and operating device and motor.

Fig. 4i is a plan view of a portion of the operating and locking device when the switch is thrown half open or closed, and

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the operating and locking device in open position.

for

Fig. 1 shows a typical portion of an ordinary railroad track and switch in which 6 ind cates the rails, 7 the switch points, wh ch are connected by a switch bar 8, to which is fastened an adjustable connection 9, to which is fastened a throw bar 10,by means of which the switch is opened and closed. The construction shown so far is ordinary and forms no part of my invention, except in so far as it cooperates with the parts about to be described.

The end of the throw bar, projecting beyond the track bed, is connected to a ro tating locking and operating device, which i have indicated in general at 11, and which is driven by direct connection to a motor 12.

1 provide a substantially circular base 13, mounted upon a central stub shaft 14;, journaled at 15, and resting upon a support 16. Disposed upon the base 13 are two guideways intersecting at right angles and eX- tending to the edge of the circular base, having channels orgrooves 18. The guides 17 have inwardly extending flanges 17, thus forming with the sides run-ways in which two suitable locking members 19 and 20 respectively are adapted to reciprocate. These locking members are disposed at right angles, as shown. The member 19is pivotally connected at 19 with the end of a crank arm or bar 21, to which the throw bar 10 is pivotally connected at 22. The member 20 is pivotally connected at 20' to the rod 21. A worm wheel 24; is secured to the under side of the circular base 13 and meshes with the worm 25 which is connected with the motor 12 by means of a shaft 26.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Upon the actuation of the motor 12, the base 13 is revolved through the medium of the worm and gear connection. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the bar 21 is shown in the position to close the switch (see Fig. 1).

Now, when the base is revolved, the members 19 and 20 will slide in the guide-ways until the bar 21 has passed through the position shown in Fig. 4. to that shown in Fig. 5. In this position the locking member 20 receives any thrust along the bar 21, which being dead centered, is prevented from moving, thereby positively locking the switch in its open position.

(7n further rotation of the base 13 in either direction for 90, the bar 21 is pushed placement of the latter. The motor 12 may be actuated by any suitable form 0i circuit,

the particular form of circuit forming no part of the present invention.

I claim: r The combination of a support, a vertically extending stub shaft'journaled therein, a rotatable base plate mounted upon said stub shaft and rigidly secured thereto, a

pair of diametrically disposed guideways carried by said base plate, said guideways intersecting at -right angles at the central axis, a guide member disposedin each of said guideways and slidable therealong, a switch bar reciprocable longitudinally, a

switch throw rod adjustably secured to said switch bar, a crank arm pivotally connected to said guide members at the central portions thereof and being pivotally connected to the throw rod of the switch, said crank arm being dead centered with respect'to its two pivotal connections when said switch bar has been moved'tothe limit of its effectiye movement in either directioma worm wheel arranged concentrically with respect to saidbase plate and rigidly secured to the under side thereof, aworm arranged to engage said worm wheeh'and 'aimotor for driving the worm. V

JOHN 

